Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-26

toward corpulence: good features good eyes, q
genial manner, ready laugh. a long pair of sandy
iarity with the great American joke, and certain
likeness TO r-y-l p-rs-n-ge, who shall remain
nameless for me, made up the mans externaIs as
ne could be viewed In society. Inwardly, In spite
OF his gross body and highly masculine WHISPERS,
he was more like maiden lady than a man OF
II CHANGED one day, as he was strolling down
Market street, on the eve OF his fortnight holiday
that his eye Was caught by certain railway bills,
he might be home for Christmas If he started on
the morrow. The fancy thrilled him with desire,
and In one moment he decided he would go.
There was much to be done. His pOrtmanteau
to be packed, a credit to be got from the bank,
where he was wealthy customer and certain
of1ices to be transacted FOR that other bank in
which he was humble clerk, and II CHANGED, In
conformity with human nature, that out OF all
this business It was the last that came to be me-
elected. Night found him not only equipped with
former occasionl saddled with considerable sum
OF other peoples.
Now it CHANGED there lived In the same board
ing house fellow clerk of his, an honest fellow,
with what Is called weakness for drink-though
II might in this case, have been called strength,
without the briefest intermission To this unfor-
tunate John entrusted letter with an enclosure
OF bonds addressed to the bank manager Even
haziness OF eye and speech in his trustee; but he
was too hopeful to be stayed sienced the voice OF
warning In his bosom, and with one and the same
himself into the hands Of destiny.
Idwell, even at the risk OF tedium, ON Johns mi
nuteSt errors, his case being so perplexng to the
moralist; but we have done with them now. the
roll Is closed the reader has the worst OF our Door
hero, and leave him TO judge for himself whether
ne or John mas peen a Ine less deserving Hence
was a mere whptop for calamity, on whose un-
merfted misadventures not even the humOrist can
look without pity, and not even the philosopher
That same night the clerk entered upon bout
OF drunkenness so consistent as to surprise even
his intimate acquaintance. He was speedily
elected from the boarding house; deposited his
portmanteau with perfect stranger, who did not
even catch his name: wandered he knew not
where and was at last hOve-to, all standing, In a
hospital at sacramento. There, under the impene-
trable alias OF the number Of his bed the crapous
being lay for some more days UNCONSCIOUS OF all
things, and OF one thing In particular that the pO-
lice were after him. Two months had come and
gone before the cOnvaleScent in the sacramento
hospital was Identified with Kirkman, the alb
sconding San Francisco clerk. Even then there
must elapse nearly fortnight more till the per-
feet stranger could be hunted up, the portmanteau
recovered, and Johns letter carried at length to
Its destination the seal still unbrOken the incos-
ure still intact
Meanwhile, John had gone upon his holidays
without word, which was irregular; and there
had disappeared with him a certain sum OF money
which was out OF all bounds of palation But he
was known to be careless, and believed to be hon.
est; the manager besides had regard for him;
and little was said, although something was no
doubt thought, until the fortnight was finally at
an end and the time had come for John To reap-
pear. Then, indeed the affair began to look black
and when inquiries were made and the pennilesS
clerk was found TO have amaSsed thousands OF
dollars and kept them secretly In rival establish
ment, the stouLeSt OF his friends abandoned him,
the books were Overhauled for traces OF ancient
and artful fraud, and though none were found,
there still prevailed q general impression OF loss
The telegraph was set in motion; and the CORE
spondent or the bank in Edinburgh, for which
place IL was understood that John had armed him.
SELF with extensive credits was warned to COM
municate with the police
Now this correspondent was a friend OF Mr.
Nlcholson's; he was We'll acquainted with the tale
or johns ca!alnitouS disappearance from Edn-
Durgh; and putting one thing with another, hast
ened With the first word OF this scandal not to
the police, but TO his friend. The Old gentleman
had long regarded his son as one dead; Johns
place had been TAKEN the memory OF his faults had
already fallen to be one OF those old aches which
awaken again indeed upon occasion, but which we
can always yanqulSh by an effort OF the Will and
to have the long lost reSuScttated In a fresh dis
grace was dOubly bitter
"Macewen," said the old man. "this must be
hushed up, II possible. II give you cheuue for
THIS sum, about which they are certain, could you
take 1t on yourself TO let the matter reSt?r
81 WILL" said Macewen. 81 will take the risk
OF It,"
"lOu understand" resumed Mr.. Nicholson
speaking precisely but with ashen lips: II do this
for my family, not for that unhappy young man.
II IL should turn out these suspicion are correct,
ana ne mas embeZzled large SUMS, he must lie on
mis- ped as he has made It," And then looking up
at Macewen with a nod, and one OF his strange
smiles, Goodbye" said he, and Macewen per-
ceiv1ng the case to be too grave for consolation
took himself OF, and blessed God cd his way home
that he was chiidleSS.
ITO BE Continued